Capacitor terminal tab forming machine



' Feb. 12,1957

Filed Feb. 6, 1951 a a I i 27 C 1 ?65 F. O. GILUN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TABFORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l lli IN V EN TOR 17 0x1055 Owem Gill/2hA1TORNEYS 5 Sheets-SheetS F. O. GlLLlN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMINGMACHINE Feb. 12, 1957 Filed Feb. 6, 1951 1W ATI'ORNEYS INVENTOR FfiancasOwen Gala/1 1957 F. o. GILLIN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB' FORMING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5. 1951 fiance's Owen Oz'llz'm B am A'ITORNEYSFeb' 12, 1957 F. o. GlLLlN CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 6, 1951 INVENTOR fiazz'ca's Owen Gillan I BY II A'ITORNEYS United States Patent CAPACITOR TERMINAL TAB FORMING MACHINEFrancis Owen Gillin, New Bedford, Mass., assignor to AerovoxCorporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 6,1951, Serial No. 209,676

2 Claims. (Cl. 113-1) This invention relates to apparatus for feedingtape and forming tabs therefi'om for use with a machine for stitchingsuch tabs to lengths of foil to form protruding terminals when such foilis Wound into capacitors.

Where pre-cut terminal tabs are manually positioned transversely of thefoil preparatory to then clinching them to the foil in the course ofwinding the foil together with its associated paper dielectric on amandrel to form a capacitor section, the operation is slow, costly andlikely to be inaccurate by misplacernent in the positioning of suchtabs.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide amechanism which is relatively simple in construction, having but fewparts, none of which are likely to become deranged, which is sturdy,compact and capable of continuous use for long periods of time withoutneed for stoppage for adjustment or repair and which may readily beoperated by even a relatively unskilled workman, by which the terminaltabs need not be precut but are fed in appropriately measured lengthsfor accurate positioning relative to the foil and out 01f in the courseof winding the foil and paper upon an appropriately driven mandrel allin coaction with a tab stitching mechanism which latter may be ofconventional construction.

According to the invention, the mechanism includes means for holding aroll of metal tape from which the tabs are to be formed, means foradvancing predetermined lengths of tape past a severing means so thatthe leading end of the tape is introduced to the tab stitching machine,means for accurately aligning the free end of the tape with theoperating elements of the tab stitching machine, and meanssimultaneously for severing the tape to form a tab therefrom and forstitching such tab to the foil.

Desirably the roll of tape is in frictional engagement with a feedroller positively driven through suitable drive linkage from a shaft towhich a measuring feed roller is aflixed, the latter having anassociated gripping roller resiliently urged thereagainst to grip thetape therebetween. Means are provided simultaneously to rotate said feedrollers so that the tape may be drawn from the roll by the measuringfeed roller and associated gripping roller to be passed between a pairof normally spaced cutting blades, said first feed roller eliminatingdrag on such tape as it is advanced to prevent slippage thereof betweenthe gripping roller and the measuring feed roller.

In order that tabs of predetermined length may be formed, the measuringfeed roller is designed to be rotated intermittently in but onedirection, the length of tape advanced by said roller between and pastthe cutting blades being determined by the amount of each intermittentrotation of said measuring roller. To actuate said cutting blades, oneof which is fixed and the other of which is reciprocable, the latterblade is desirably controlled by a shaft oscillating in timed relationwith the Patented Feb. 12, 1957 ice operation of the stitching machineso that a tab will be severed from the length of tape and simultaneouslystitched to the foil strip.

Desirably, a deflector arm is positioned between the cutting blades andthe stitching machine and movable against the tape prior to thestitching operation to align the free end of such tape with theoperating elements of the stitching machine so that the tab may besecurely stitched to such foil strip in accurate position.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away showingthe tape feeding and tab forming apparatus associated with the tabstitching machine,

Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view on a larger scale taken along line2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,showing the left hand portion of the apparatus,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the right hand portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail view taken along line 6-6 ofFig. 3,

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views of the portions of the machine shown inFigs. 3 and 4 respectively,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale taken alongline 99 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view on a larger scale of the tapedeflector,

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 11-11 ofFigs. 7 and 8,

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectionalview taken along line 1212 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 taken along line 1414 of Fig. 12,

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 1515 of Fig. 11,and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Referring now to the drawings, the tab stitching machine and the tabforming and feeding apparatus are so inter-related as to operate inconjunction with each other and may be mounted, for example, on a baseB. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the tab forming and feeding apparatusdesirably comprises means for holding a roll R of metal tape 20 such asaluminum, from which the tabs are formed, means for severing the tapeand means for advancing the tape to feed predetermined lengths to thesevering means so that tabs of desired length may be formed, said meansbeing desirably mounted on an elongated substantially rectangular plate21 preferably of heavy metal stock supported in a vertical plane in anysuitable manner.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the means for holding the roll of tape Rdesirably comprises a pair of upstanding plates 22 and 23 preferablysubstantially rectangular as shown, retained in spaced parallel relationas by a block Z4 intervening therebetween near the lower edges thereof.The plates 22 and 23 are desirably afiixed near their vertical edges 25as by screws 26, to a bracket in the form of a strip 27, affixed byscrews 31 near the end 32 of supporting plate 21. Plates 22 and 23 eachhas a vertical slot 33 therein transversely aligned with each other andextending downwardly from the top edges 34 of said plates.

Longitudinally aligned with said slots 33 and positioned therebeneath isa stud shaft extending transversely between plates 22 and Z3 andjournalled in suitable bearing openings therein, said shaft having afeed roller 36 aflixed thereon between said plates 22 and 23. As shownin Fig. 8, stud shaft 35 extends rearwardly of plate 23 and de sirablyhas a sprocket wheel 37 EifiiXBd thereon as by means'of set screw 38extending through the hub 39 of said sprocket wheel. The roll R of tapeis positioned between the upstanding plates 22 and 23, and has an axialshaft 41 extending transversely through vertical slots 33 so that thelower peripheral edge of said roll R will rest on the periphery of thefeed roller 36.

With this construction, it is apparent that as tape is drawn off theroll R in the manner hereinafter to be described, and the diameter ofthe latter is reduced, by reason of the weight of such roll, it willgradually move downwardly between'plates 22 and 23 and remain inrcontactwith the feed roller 35.

The tape advancing mechanism to draw tape from the roll'R desirablycomprises a measuring feed roller 44 which, as shown in Figs. 3, ll, 12and 14, has an axial hub 45 encompassing and affixed to horizontal driveshaft 46 by means of a set screw 47. Shaft 4c is desirably journalledin'transversely aligned bearing openings 48 and 49 respectively, in thesupporting plate 21 and in a substantially rectangular plate 51 (Figs. 3and 12) that is mounted on plate 21 and retained in spaced parallelrelation with respect thereto as by means of spacer members 52 (Fig. 8).y

In order to retain the tape 2 against the periphery of the measuringfeed roller 44 which is desirably knurled as at 53, so that the tape maybe advanced thereby in the manner hereinafter to be described, agripping roller 54 is provided, movable against said measuring feedroller 44 so as to clamp the tape 20 therebetween. Although grippingroller 54 could be mounted in any suitable manner, it desirably is idlymounted, as shown in Fig. 3, on a stud 55 extending laterally inwardtoward supporting plate 21 from an arm 55 secured as by screws 57 to thelower end and at the outer face of anupright arm 58, said arms forming abell crank lever 59 which is pivotally mounted on a screw 6i) threadedinto the supporting plat-p 21. V

esirably the gripping roller 54 has a disc 6i (Fig. 12) on the outerface thereof also rotatably mounted on stud 55 and of diameter slightlygreater than gripping roller 4% so' that the edge of disc 61 willoverlap the peripheral edge of said measuring fed roller 44 to preventlateral displacement of the tape .29 between said rollers.

Means are desirably provided normally to urge the bell crank lever 59 ina clockwise direction'about its pivot 69 as shown in Fig. 3 to movegripping roller 54 toward the periphery of feed roller Although anysuitable means may be used for this purpose, in the embodiment hereinshown (Figs. 3 and 4), a coil spring 62 is inter- 'posed between twolengths of Wire 63, 64 affixed respectively to the upper end of uprightarm 58 and to the upper end of a post 65 which latter is secured at itslower end as by screws 65 near the upper edge of the supporting plate21.

Means are desirably provided to rotate measuring feed roller 44- *andalso to rotate shaft 46 so that the feed roller 36 may also be rotatedas by means of a sprocket chain 7% operatively connecting sprocket wheel37 and sprocket wheel 43. To this end a. pair of clutches 67 and 68(Figs. 12, 13 and 14) are desirably provided on each side of plate 21respectively, designed to permit rotation of feed rollers 36 and 44andshaft 46 in only one direction i. e., in a counterclockwise directionas shown in Figs. 3 and 11. Although the clutches could be of anysuitable type, each desirably, as shown, comprises a clutch disc 69, 71preferably of steel, positioned respectively in circular cavities '72and 73 in hub 45 and in a cup-shaped casing 74, the latter being afiixedby set screw 75 upon shaft 46 to the rear of plate 21. Each of the discswhich are identical has its periphery cut away to define a plurality ofsubstantially right angle notches 76 in each of which a pin or roller 77is positioned, the latter being normally urged to wedge between theadjacent face 78 of the cavity and the inner wall 79 of the notch 76 asby a coil spring 81.

As shown in Fig. 12,.the pins. associated with disc69 are retained intheir associated notches 76 by means of an outstanding peripheral flange82 on the outerface of said disc 69. The pins associated with the disc71 are retained in their associated notches by means of a cover plate 33positioned over circular cavity 73 and over the end face of disc '71,said cover plate 33 being aifiXed to the rear face of plate 1 by meansof screws 84 which extend through a flange conformation 85desirably'formed integral with said cover and being affixed to disc 71as by a screw 8-9.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a pinion 86 is desirably idly mounted onshaft between clutch disc 65 and plate end of a stud 92 which extendsthrough 53. The

front end of'the stud-"92 extends through transversely aligned openingsin the legs (Figs. 8, ll, Hand 16) formed at the bifurcated end of anarm 94 which pivots on said stud. Legs 93 straddle a lug '95 upstandingfrom the surface of an elongated arm 96 and preferably formed integraltherewith, said stud 92 also extending through lug pivotally to mountsaid arm 95.

Gear 91 is desirably rigidly connected to arm 9 to be movable therewith,as by means of a set screw 97 which extends transversely through anopening in'gear 91 over the top edge 98 of'plate 51 and is threaded intoa stop member 131. The latter is rigid with and preferably formedintegral with arm 94 on the inner side thereof, and .eX-tends laterallyover the top edge 93 of plate 51, being adapted to abut against said topedge to limit the pivotal movement of arm 94 in both clockwise andcounterclockwise direction.

Arms 94 and 9d are desirably connected so that upon rotation of arm 96about its pivot 92 as by a handle rod 102 (Fig. 11) aflixed to the freeend of said arm as at 193, arm '94 will also be rotated. To this end itis preferred to provide a stud 163d slidable in an opening in arm 96 andhaving its upper end 1% positioned between the legs 1437 formed at thefree end 1% of arm 94 which also is bifurcated, a pin 199 pivotallyconnecting said studs to said legs 107. By means of a coil spring 111encom passing that portion of stud 104 beneath arm 96 and compressedbetween said arm 96 and a nut 112 screwedj on the threaded end of saidstud, the arms 94 and 95 will be resiliently retained in juxtaposedparallel relation so,

that both arms maybe moved simultaneously in either clockwise orcounterclockwise direction. However, upon abutting of said stop member191 against the top edge 98 .of plate 51 when the handle is moved in aclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 11, although the 1 arm94 will be restrained from further pivotal movement on stud 92 the arm96 will continue to pivot illustratively to the position shown indot anddash lines, compressing the coil spring 111 which will take up theimpact caused bore 113 in stop member ittll, said screw protrudingbeyond the face 1150f the stop member to engage the top edge 98 of plate51 when-the'arm 94 is pivoted to its extreme counterclockwise directionfrom the position shown in Fig. 11 which movement does not rotate thefeed roller 44 by reason of the clutches 67 and 68. Thus, as the arm 96is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 11 the measuring feed roller 44will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction a fixed amountdetermined by the amount of rotary movement of gear 91.

In order to guide the tape 21) as it is drawn from the roll R by feedroller 44, a plurality of idler rollers 117, 118 and 119 are desirablyprovided, rotatably mounted on the supporting plate 21 by means of studs121 extending laterally outward from said plate. Desirably one of saidrollers, illustratively roller 119 has a flange 122 thereon preferablyformed integral therewith on the outer periphery thereof, therebypreventing lateral displacement of the tape 29 on said roller 119 as itpasses thereover.

Means are desirably provided to prevent the inner edge of the tape 21?from rubbing against the plate 21 as the tape 21 is drawn past therollers 44 and 54. To this end, as shown in Fig. 11, the supportingplate 21 has a substantially rectangular opening 125 therethrough nearthe adjacent peripheries of rollers 44 and 54. Positioned in saidopening is a roller 126 having its periphery extending slightly beyondthe plane of the front face of the supporting plate 21. The roller isrotatably mounted in vertical position between the legs 127 of asubstantially U-shaped bracket 128 and is retained in said opening as bymeans of a leaf spring 129 afiixed at one end as by welding to the crosspiece of said bracket which extends beyond the rear face of saidsupporting plate and at its other end as by screws 131 (Fig. 8) to therear of said plate.

Desirably the position of the periphery of roller 126 with respect tothe plane of the front face of the supporting plate 21 is adjustable asby means of a screw 133 (Figs. 7 and ll) threaded through an opening inplate 21.

Means are desirably provided associated with the rollers 44 and 54 toguide the tape 2% therefrom to the cutting mechanism for severing suchtape. To this end, an elongated closed channel 135 (Fig. 6) is desirablyprovided extending longitudinally of the supporting plate 21 insubstantially the same horizontal plane as the adjacent peripheries ofrollers 44 and 54.

Although the channel may be formed in any suitable manner, in theembodiment herein shown, a substantially rectangular block 136 isaffixed as by screws 137 to the supporting plate so as to extendlongitudinally thereof and arcuately cut away at 138 to clear theperiphery of roller 44. The upper surface of the block 136 adjacent thesupporting plate 21 has a longitudinal recess 139 therein over whichextends a cover strip 142 affixed to the upper edge of the blockadjacent the outer edge thereof as by screws 143, the space between thefloor of the recess and the undersurface of the cover defining saidelongated channel 135.

To sever the tape discharged from the outlet end 144 of channel 135 thecutting mechanism shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 is desirably provided. Thismechanism may cornprise a pair of coacting blades 147 and 148. As shownin Fig. 5, movable blade 147 desirably comprises a substantiallyrectangular strip of hardened steel slidably mounted so as to bevertically reciprocable in a holder 149, which is preferably asubstantially rectangular block 151 of metal having a longitudinalcentral recess 152 therein slightly greater in depth than the thicknessof blade 147 which is therefore free to slide in said recess which isclosed by a cover plate 153, affixed thereover by means of screws 154.The holder 149 is desirably affixed to the plate 21 adjacent a verticalslot 155 therein by means of a substantially L-shaped bracket 156, whichretains the holder 149 and the blade 147 therein in vertical positionextending at right angles to plate 21 with the rear edge of said holderextending through said slot 155.

The holder 158 for the fixed cutting blade 148 is accommodated in theenlarged bottom portion 157 of slot 155. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5,holder 158 desirably comprises a block having a shoulder 159 at the rearthereof which rests on the lower edge 161 of the enlarged portion ofslot 155. The holder 158 is securely retained in position on saidsupporting plate 21 as by means of a plurality of screws 162 extendingtransversely through the lower end of the block and threaded into theplate. The fixed blade 148, which desirably is a substantiallyrectangular, elongated block of hardened steel, is positioned with itslower end in a transverse slot 163 through the top portion of saidblock, and removably secured in said slot by means of a screw 164extending upwardly through the base of holder 158 into a threadedopening in blade 148. With the blades 147 and 148 thus mounted, thecutting edges 165 and 166 thereof may be positioned adjacent each otherand will extend at right angles to the plate 21 transversely of thelength of tape 20 as it passes therebetween.

Means are desirably provided to reciprocate said movable blade 147 sothat the cutting edge 165 thereof may be moved past the cutting edge 166of the fixed blade 148 to sever said tape 20. Although any suitablemeans may be used for this purpose, in the embodiment herein shown, themovable blade 147 has a transverse slot 167 in the upper edge thereofwhich is exposed through aligned enlarged circular openings 168 and 169in the block 151 and the cover plate 153 respectively, near the upperends thereof. Extending through openings 168 and 169 and through thetransverse slot 167 is a pin 171, afiixed at its root end near theperiphery of the end face 172 of the enlarged head 173 of horizontalactuating shaft 174 and extending longitudinally thereof, said enlargedhead being positioned in opening 168 which serves as a bearing therefor.Means are desirably provided rotatably to mount shaft 174 longitudinallyof plate 21, yet to restrain said shaft from longitudinal movement. Tothis end a portion of said shaft near the enlarged head 173 thereof isof reduced diameter as at 175 and the shaft is retained against theplate 21 as by means of a block 176, desirably afiixed near its lowerend as by screws 177 to plate 21 and having a notch 178 therein on theinner face thereof into which fits said reduced portion.

Means are desirably provided to guide the tape 20 as it is moved betweenand beyond the cutting blades 147 and 148. To this end a substantiallyrectangular bar 181 is provided afiixed as by screws 182 to thesupporting plate 21 and extending longitudinally thereof, said barhaving its top surface 183 lying in a horizontal plane slightly belowthe cutting edge 166 of the fixed blade 148 and the outlet 144 ofchannel 135. Desirably bar 181 has a horizontal deflector plate 184positioned thereabove which may be aflixed to the supporting plate 21 asby means of screws 185 extending through an upright flange 186preferably formed integral with said deflector plate. The deflectorplate 184 which extends substantially parallel to bar 181 is slightlyspaced therefrom to define a guideway 1S7 therebetween and is upwardlycurved as at 188 at the inlet end of said passageway to ensure that thelength of tape may enter therein.

The mechanism heretofore described is designed to operate in conjunctionwith a tab stitching mechanism which as it per se forms no part of thisinvention will be but briefly described.

The tab stitching mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3 desirably comprises apair of upright supporting bars 191 and 192 retained in parallelrelation by spacer bars 193 and 194, the assembly being retained invertical position by means of screws 195 extending through the spacerbar 194 and threaded into the supporting base B of the mechanism.Rotatably mounted between the upright supporting bars 191 and 192adjacent spacer bars 193 and 194 respectively are a pair of eccentriccams 197 and 198 each preferably an elongated rod. One of said cams,illustratively cam 197 extends longitudinally of actuating shaft 174 andis axially aligned therewith. Cam 197 desirably "has reduced portions201, 202 .(Figs. 1 and 9') at its respective ends journalled inassociated bearing openings in the upright supporting bars 191, 192 andone of said reduced portion, i. e., portion 201 extend through the bar191 and as shown in Fig. 9 is operatively connected to the actuatingshaft 174 so that the latter will rotate with the cam 197 to sever thetape.

Although the cam 197 and shaft 174 may be connected in any suitablemanner, in the embodiment herein shown, the end'of cam 197 has arectangular cavity 263 therein into which extends the correspondinglyshaped end 204 of shaft 174.

The other reduced portion 262 of the earn 197 extends through. anopening in a lever 205, the latter being ai'hxed to said cam be means ofa screw 296 which extends through the end of said lever and through thereduced portion 202 of said cam.

Positioned between upright supporting bars 191 and 192 beneath cam 197and extending parallel thereto is a' vertically movable, substantiallyrectangualr bar 268. The cam 197 is esirabiy substantially oval in crosssection and has a flat undersurface 210 (Fig. 1) against which the bar208 is resiliently urged as by means of tensed coil springs 269compressed between said bar 268 and the surface of a bar 211 extendingparallel to the cam 197 and afiixed at each end to the upright bars 191and 192 respectively, the bar 208 being restrained from transversedisplacement by means of an upright arm 214 (Fig. 3) affixed at itslower end to bar 211 and resting at its upper end against bar 268.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, bar 208 carries a plurality of dependingstitching pins 212 extending parallel to each other in a planelongitudinally of bar 208 and reciprocable respectively in acorresponding plurality of vertical openings 213 in said bar'211.Associated with bar 211 is a bar 216 which extends parallel to bar 211and is spaced'therefrom as at 217 to define a passageway therebetween,said bar 216 also being afiixed at each end to the upright supportingbar 191, 192. The bar 216 has a plurality of bores 218 therethroughvertically aligned respectively with the bores 213 in bar 211 and withthe pins 212 reciprocable therein so that said pins may enter the boresin bar 216.

Associated with bar 216 and positioned therebelow' between said bar andcam 198 is a bar 219 vertically movable between upright supports 191 and192. The bar 219 carries a plurality of upright sleeves 221 parallel toeach other in a plane longitudinally of bar 219, said sleeves beingvertically aligned respectively with the bores 218 in bar 216 so thatthey may reciprocate therein. The bar 219 is normally urged away frombar 216 by means of'a plurality of coil springs 222 compressed betweenbars 216 and 219, the downward movement of said bar 219 being limited bythe earn 198 on which said bar rests. As shown in Fig. 3, cam 198desirably has a portion of its upper face cut away so that in crosssection it defines a semi-cylindrical portion 223 of diameter less thanthat of the'bottom portion 224 of said cam 198, said bar 219 normallyriding'on said cam portion 223.

Cam 198 desirably has a reduced portion at each end journalledrespectively in associated bearing openings in upright supports 191 and192 and one of said reduced portionsextends through an opening in alever 225, the

3) will lie directlybeneath the pins 212 over the strip of foil P whichhas been advanced between bars 211 and 216. To this end as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, supporting bar 1 91 desirably has. a transverse notch orinlet 238 therein at the input end .of the passageway 217 between bars211 and 216 and a deflector guide 229 is desirably associatedwith saidinlet 228. The guide 229 illustratively comprises substantially anL-shaped member having its vertical leg 231 afiixed as by screw 232 tothe outer surface of upright support 191 and having its horizontal leg233 extending through inlet 228.

To retain the free end of the tape 21) directly beneath pins 212, in theembodiment herein shown in deflecting finger 235 is desirably provided(Fig. 10) pivotally mounted at its lower end near the outlet of guideway187 and movable transversely of bar 181 into a vertical slot 236 in theouter face thereof. The nose end 237 of said finger is adapted to abutagainst the outer longitudinal edge of the tape 23 in the guideway 187to move'the latter laterally therein so that the free end thereof willbe aligned with pins 212 in the stitching mechanism.

Although the finger 235 could be mounted in any suitable manner as shownin Fig. 10, it is affixed at its lower end as by set screw 239 to oneend of a horizontal shaft 241 rotatably mounted in a longitudinal borein a block 242 afiixed as by screws 243 to the undersurface of bar 181.Afiixed to the other end of shaft 241 is a lever 244 connected at itslower end by a pitman 245 to a solenoid 246, desirably controlled bymeans of a micro switch 247 mounted on a bracket 248 afiixed to theplate 51 as shown in Fig. 3. The micro switch is designed to be closedto encrg'me the solenoid when the arm 96 of the tape feeding mechanismhas moved to the limit of its feeding stroke as shown in Fig. 11 and tothis end the micro switch 247 has an operating arm 249, the free end ofwhich extends in the path of movement of a trip finger 251 afiixed tothe end of arm 96 and extending laterally outward therefrom. Means aredesirably provided to rotate the cams 197 and 198 to move the bars 208and 219 and their associated pins 212 and sleeves 221 respectivelytoward each other to perform the stitching operation. To this end, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, the free ends of levers 20S and 225 which aresubstantially vertically aligned, are pivotally connected to an up rightarm 253, the latter havinga substantially L-shape'd portion at the lowerend thereof and preferably formed integral therewith. Desirably thevertical arm 254 of said L-shaped portion is pivotally connected as at255 to a pitman 256, the latter being connected at its lower end to aplunger 257, desirably of the air operated type and designed to pull onsaid pitman to pivot said levers. The plunger 257 is desirablycontrolled by the same micro switch 247 which controls the solenoid 246and is designed to operate slightly later than the solenoid 246 for thereason hereinafter to be described. 9

Means are desirably provided to clench the stitched portion of the tape29 and the foil together. For this purpose in the embodiment hereinshown a horizontal anvil bar 261 (Fig. l) is associated with the bars211 and 216 and has its top surface desirablyaligned with that of thelowermost bar 216. ,The anvil 261 which is afiixed in any suitablemanner to the base of the machine so as to extend parallel to bar 216,has a hammer member associated therewith which, as shown in Fig. 1,desirably comprises a lever 262 extending longitudinally of the anvilimmediately thercabove resting on a fulcrum 263. The lever 262ispivotally connected at its rear end as at 264 to the armature of asolenoid 265, mounted by spacer members 266 to the base B, whereby uponactuation of said solenoid the rear end thereof will be raised rapidlyto bring the free end of said lever against the anvil 261 with greatforce.

In order to advance the foil P so that the stitched tab will be advancedfrom beneath the pins 212 to be presented to the anvil 261, the pullingmechanism shown in Fig. 1 is desirably provided. This mechanismdesirably comprises a base 268 preferably a rectangular metal platealfixed to the base B as by screws 269. Mounted on said plate are a pairof spaced upstanding bars 271 and 272 desirably pivotally mounted attheir lower ends on the ends of a rod 273 which extend parallel to theanvil 261 and is mounted in parallel bearing blocks 274 and 275 afdxedto plate 268 as by screws 276. Aflixed to the upper end of bars 271, 272as by screws 277 and eX- tending therebetween is a spacer bar 278beneath which is positioned an elongated cam bar 279 desirablysubstantially oval in cross section, and pivotally mounted at each endin bearing openings in bars 271, 272. One end of cam 279 which desirablyis of reduced diameter, extends through the bearing opening in bar 272and has a crank 281 affixed thereto, the latter desirably having a notch282 (Fig. 2) in the rear edge thereof to receive a laterally extendingpin 280 .aflixed to upright bar 272, when the crank is in substantiallyvertical position. The crank 281 and the cam 279 are so positioned withrespect to each other that when the crank is in substantially verticalposition, the major axis of the oval shaped cam will be in substantiallyhorizontal position.

Positioned beneath cam 279 and spaced therefrom when the major axis ofthe cam is in substantially horizontal position is a clamp bar 283 whichextends parallel to cam 279. As shown in Fig. l the clamp bar 283carries a plurality of depending studs 284 threaded at their upper endinto the undersurface of said bar, and extending respectively throughassociated openings in a retaining bar 285 afiixed at each end toupright bars 271, 272, the ends of said studs protruding beneath bar 285being of enlarged diameter. Desirably a coil spring 286 encompasses eachof said studs and is compressed between the opposed faces of theretaining bar and the clamp bar, normally resiliently to urge the latterupwardly. Desirably the upright supporting bar 272 has a slot 287completely therethrough to permit insertion of the lengths of paper P1,P2 and foil F in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Means are desirably provided to limit the pivotal movement of theupright bars 271 and 272 on shaft 273. To this end as shown in Fig. l, apair of brackets 288, 289 are provided each having an upright leg and ahorizontal leg, whereby said brackets may be alfixed to plate 268. Theupright leg of bracket 288 is desirably rearwardly inclined and a screw291 is threaded through said leg near the upper end thereof with thenose end of said screw lying in the path of movement of upright bar 272.The upright leg of bracket 289 is desirably substantially vertical andit also has a screw 292 threaded therethrough having its nose end in thepath of movement of said upright bar 272. Thus, the pivotal movement ofsaid upright bars 271 and 272 is limited by the distance between thenose ends of said screws.

Associated with upright bar 272 is a micro switch 293 which is adaptedto close when said bars 271, 272 have pivoted forwardly on shaft 273 thedesired extent. The micro switch 293 is desirably mounted on a bracket294 afiixed by screws 295 to plate 268 and has its actuating arm in thepath of movement of the nose end of a screw 297 threaded through uprightbar 272, said micro switch 293 being connected to solenoid 265 toenergize the latter when the upright bars 271 and 272 have been pivotedforwardly in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Means are desirably provided to guide the lengths of paper P1 and P2which pass between spacer bar 193 and cam 197 and between cam 198 andspacer bar 194 respectively and the foil F which passes between bars 211and 216 through the space between cam 279 and clamp bar 283. To thisend, the lengths of paper P1 and P2 and foil F all desirably passbetween a pair of elongated rollers 298 and 299, which extend parallelto anvil 261 and are vertically spaced from each other, said rods beingdesirably aflixed at one end to an upright block 301 mounted on the caseB.

10 Operation To set up the machine herein described for operation, asshown in Fig. 4, the roll R of tab foil is positioned between uprightplates 22 and 23 so that shaft 41 rides in vertical slots 33 and saidroll rests on feed rollers 36. The length of tape 20 is threaded overroller 117, under roller 118 and over roller 119, being restrained fromlateral displacement by flange 122 of said last named roller. The tapeis then passed between feed roller 44 and gripping roller 54 which maybe lifted away therefrom to permit introduction of such tapetherebetween. The tape 20 is then threaded through the channel and fromthe outlet 144 of said channel between the normally spaced blades 147and 148 and through the inlet of guideway 187 to the end of the latter.

The strips of paper P1 and P2 shown in Fig. 1 are passed between spacerbar 193 and cam 197 and spacer bar 194 and cam 198 respectively; thestrip of foil F is passed between bars 211 and 216 at right anglesthereto and the three strips are then passed between rollers 298 and 299and bars 271 and 272 of the pulling device through the space between cam279 and clamp bar 283. The ends of the strips are then positioned on thewinding mandrel M in conventional manner.

The operator may then rotate the mandrel M to wind a few turns thereonso that the ends of the superposed strips P1, P2 and F will be securelyretained on said mandrel. At this time the following operation isperformed.

The operator may grasp the handle rod 102 of the feed mechanism and moveit to the position shown in Fig. 11. As a result arm 94 will be pivotedand the gear 91 atfixed to stop member 101 will be rotated in aclockwise direction, the rotation of said gear being limited by theabutment of stop 101 against the upper edge 98 of supporting plate 51.Rotation of gear 91 will rotate pinion 86 and clutch disc 69 incounterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11, thereby to rotate feedroller 44.

At the same time the shaft 46 to which the feed roller 44 is affixedwill also be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to rotate thesprocket wheel 43 thereon. Rotation of the sprocket wheel 43 will,through sprocket chain 70 and sprocket wheel 37, rotate feed roller 36thereby to rotate the roll of tape. Simultaneously, the rotation of feedroller 44 will cause the tape 20 which is pressed thereagainst bygripping roller 54 to advance through the channel 135, between blades147 and 148 and through guideway 187 so that the end of the tape ispositioned between the bars 211 and 216 of the stitching machine.

As the length of foil F is positioned so that one of its longitudinaledges is adjacent the horizontal leg 233 of guide 229 which is ofgreater thickness than the foil, the end of the tape as it is advancedthrough inlet 238 will pass over said foil and not abut against suchedge. By reason of the rotation of roll R, no drag will be causedthereby, which might otherwise cause slippage of the tape as it isadvanced between the rollers 44 and 54.

The length of tape fed between the bars 211 and 216 of the stitchingmachine and hence the length of the tab formed is determined by theamount of rotation of the measuring feed roller 44 and this in turn iscontrolled by the amount of rotation of gear 91 which is limited in itsclockwise movement by the abutment of stop 101 against the top edge 98of plate 51 as shown in Fig. 11 and in its counterclockwise movementlimited by the adjustment screw 114 against said top edge.

When the handle rod 192 has reached the limit of its clockwise movement,the laterally extending trip pin 251 will contact the arm 249 of themicro switch 247 causing the latter to close, thereby closing circuits(not shown) to the solenoid 246 and the plunger 257. As the latter is ofthe air operated type it will function a bit slower than and 225 torotate eccentric cams 197 and 193. V of the conformation of such camsthe former, i. e., cam

197 will first press down on bar 208 against the tensed coil springs 209to force the stitching pins 212 through the tape 20 and the foil stripF. Further pivotal movement of lever 225 will cause cam 19% to raise bar219 thereby lifting sleeves 221 so that the pins 212 may enter suchsleeves to rivet the tape 20 to the foil strip.

Simultaneously with the rotation of cam 19 7, actuating shaft .174 willalso be rotated so that the pin 171 afiixed thereto will move inclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the blade 147 will be moveddownwardly against fixed blade 148 to sever the tape 24 passingtherebetween to cut off the tab length.

At this time the plunger 257 and solenoid 245 which are only momentarilyenergized by the closing of the micro switch 247 will be de-energizedand as the pull on the levers 205. and 225 will be released, the bars208 and 219 will move apart under the urging of the tensed coil springs202 and 222 and the shaft 174 will be rotated to move the pin 171 incounterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. to raise blade147. Thus the pins 212 and sleeves 221 also will move apart to permitmovement of the stitched tab and foil therefrom. At the same time thepitman 245 connecting the solenoid 246 to lever 244 will move upwardlyunder the urging of a coil spring (not shown) so that the finger 235will move away from the longitudinal edge of tape 2%.

The operator then may pull crank 281 (Figs. 1 and 2) forwardly to rotatethe latter in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. As theresult of such movement the elongated cam 279 will grip the superposedlengths of foil F and paper P1, P2 therebeneath. Continued forwardmovement of crank 281 will cause bars 271 and 272 to pivot forwardthereby pulling on the lengths of foil and paper and moving the tabwhich has been stitched to the foil from beneath the blocks 211 and. 216to between the anvil 261 and the hammer 262. As bars 271 and 272 pivotforwardly, limited by the abutment of bar 272 against screw 292, tripscrew 297 will abut against the actuating arm of micro switch 293closing the latter to complete a circuit (not shown) to the solenoid265. Energization of this solenoid will cause the armature thereof tomove upwardly pivoting the lever hammer 262 about pivot 263 so that theend of the lever strikes against the stitched portion of the foil andtab which is on the anvil to spread out the material about theperforations in such foil and such tab thereby clenching the twosecurely together.

The operator'then may move the crank to the position shown in Fig. 2 torelease the length of paper and foil and to pivot bars 271 and 272 totheir rearmost position with bar 272 abutting against screw 291 (Fig; 1)and rotate the mandrel M slightly until the stitched tab passes betweenthe cam 2'79 and clamp block 283, through the slot or notch 287 inupright arm 272, and is wound between successive layers on the mandrel.The mandrel may then berotated by a suitable motor at high. speed untilthe desired number of turns have been wound thereon.

The operator need merely sever the superposed layers of paper and foilat a point between the mandrel and the pulling mechanism and remove thewound capacitor from necessary to move handle rod 162 in acounterclockwise 12 a direction as shown in Fig. 11 until screw' 114abuts against the top edge of plate 51. Q

' Although. such movement will rotate pinion 86 and disc 69 in aclockwise direction, the pins 77 (Fig. 14) will normally move out ofwedging engagement with walls and 79 and hence the feed roller 44 willnot be rotated. However, in the event 'the pins 77 should be so tightlywedged as to remain in locked position, the

. feed roller would rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11.Such rotation is undesirable as the tape would be drawn away from theblades 147 and 148 and hence on the next feeding operation no tab wouldbe formed.

By reason of the clutch 68 such difficulty is avoided for if the pins 77should remain in locked position in dutch 67 which would tend tocausefeed roller 44 and shaft 46 to rotate, the clutch 68 would stopsuch rotation. Thus as the casing 74 of clutch 68 rotates with shaft 46and as disc 71 is secured to fixed cover 83 by screws any slightrotation of casing 74 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 13 wouldcause the pins 77 of clutch 68 to wedge between wall 78 and 79 therebyrestraining said casing and shaft 46 from rotation and consequentlyrestraining feed roller 44 affixed to said shaft.

As a result, there is no likelihood of rotation of feed roller 44 in anybut a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 11 and hence only tabsof predetermined length will be formed. 7

With the construction thus described, a highly effective apparatus isprovided which may readily be combined with a tab stitching machine tofeed lengths of tape to the latter and sever the same to form tabs ofpredetermined length in timed relation with the stitching operation.

As the apparatus does not'require handling of the individual tabs, thereis little likelihood that they will be deformed and hence the number ofrejects of the finished product will be kept at a minimum.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. Apparatus of the character described for forming sage .of tapelongitudinally therethrough and the passage of foil transverselytherethrough, a rotatable cam to reciprocate said perforating means,means for severing tabs from a continuous length of tape, said meanscomprising a fixed blade and a reciprocable blade, means operativelyconnecting said cam and said reciprocable blade, means for feedingpredetermined lengths of tape past said severing means into saidlongitudinal passageway of said stitching means to present such tape tosaid perforating means, solenoid actuated means for aligning the end ofsuch tape with said perforating means, means to rotate 7 said cam andreciprocate said blade, a micro switch controlled by said feeding meansand controlling said solenoid and said cam rotating means, and actuatedwhen said predetermined length of tab has been fed, said solenoid beingdesigned to operate prior to said cam rotating means.

2. Apparatus of the character described for forming tabs from acontinuous length of tape and for stitching such tabs to foil strip,said apparatus comprising tab stitching mechanism including perforatingmeans having a longitudinal passageway associated therewith for thepassage of tape longitudinally therethrough and the passage of foiltransversely therethrough, a rotatable cam to reciprocate saidperforating means, means for severing tabs from a continuous length oftape, said means comprising a fixed blade and a reciprocable blade,means operatively connecting said cam and said reciprocable blade, meansfor feeding predetermined lengths of tape past said severing means intosaid longitudinal passageway of said stitching means to present suchtape to said perforating means, means for aligning the end of such tapewith said perforating means, means to rotate said cam and reciprocatesaid blade, and means controlled by said feeding means for actuationwhen said predetermined length of tab has been fed, and associated withsaid aligning means and said cam rotating means for operation of thesame in sequence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,249Shipley Dec. 22, 1868 308,119 White Nov. 18, 1884 1,286,210 Beugler Dec.3, 1918 1,894,379 Link Ian. 17, 1953 2,297,948 Eisenhauer Oct. 6, 19422,333,966 Weiss Nov. 9, 1943 2,406,418 Walters Aug. 27, 1946 2,430,377Vorreyer Nov. 4, 1947 2,547,644 Hogue et a1 Apr. 3, 1951

